Pages

Saturday, March 27, 2010

If you've not heard me talk about Cards4Cancer, well then you apparently don't pay attention to anything I facebook, tweet, plurk or talk about.

Cards4Cancer is from the awesome people at Spirit Jump. The goal is simple:

On Saturday April 10th, 2010 Spirit Jump and the team leaders around the world will deliver bags of uplifting cards to their local cancer centers to be given to those battling cancer. Cards can be collected by asking family members, friends, neighbors, schools, youth groups or just about anyway you can think of getting them. Cards can be handmade or store bought and should have a positive message to help JUMP the SPIRIT of someone who is battling cancer.Our purpose is to bring hope and comfort to the many men, women and children battling cancer! Not just creating awareness but also having a direct positive impact on the lives of those that are hurting.Spirit Jump has set a goal to collectively deliver over 100,000 uplifting cards. Join us and together we can reach this goal.

Here are my thoughts on C4C and why I really want you to pay attention and get involved.

Our lives are busy, that is apparent. There are COUNTLESS charities we can donate too, volunteer for. I, myself hold cancer and Autism as top priorities in my charity work, for personal reasons.

You may think that there are already so many people doing things, donating, volunteering that you don't NEED to help. Perhaps you are a single parent, caring for an eldery parent, work full time, have a large family, or just feel you don't have the money or time to help.

I beg of you to THINK AGAIN. Let's be real....the DOLLAR store has beautiful cards you can nab for just one dollar. If you are in the Slidell/Pearl River/ St Tammany area I will personally PICK UP YOUR cards from you if you can't afford to mail them to us.

If you have children this is a wonderful lesson for them. Your cards do not have to be 'perfect'. The simplest drawing from a child can warm the heart of a person suffering from cancer. Do you REALLY not have 5 minutes to draw a heart on a card and write "Thinking of you". REALLY?

Time is precious...I do agree. As is money in these very uncertain times. But if you are someone who is relatively healthy.. I can pretty much promise you have MORE time and probably more money than someone who is going through chemo, taking meds, losing their hair and possibly, preparing for the end of their life, or at least a very different life than what they were used to.

If YOU had cancer wouldn't YOU want to receive a thoughtful card of hope?

So please, please take the time to join a team, and send in some cards. If you'd like to join our team, Handmade Louisiana, that is fabulous. If not, please join a team near you!!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

If you read this blog, or know me in any way, you know I have a wee bit of an addictive personality. I am mucho addicted to fabric, sewing and craft supplies. You may or may not know I am also a music addict. I LOVE music. Especially live music. This is fairly recent to me, since my late 20's, perhaps because before that I was stuck on country music or oldies. (which I still love, but sadly, yeah sure can't see The Beatles live anymore can ya?)

This week my husband and I went to the John Mayer concert. It was my first time seeing him live, and my first MAJOR show in awhile. Generally the bands I see are more low key, playing clubs, or smaller venues. This was the first large production show I'd seen in awhile. (Fabric purchases cut into the concert budget....)

John Mayer is one of the FEW "Mainstream" musicians I like. Most of the musicians I love get a resounding "WHO?" when I tell people about them. But Mayer is the man. I admit...I had his first album from the get go, before I wanted to vomit every time I heard "Your Body is A Wonderland". (Is there ANY real Mayer fan who actually still likes that song? If you are one....I'll still like you but I just don't get it.)

John Mayer's PR person has obviously been smoking dope the past few years because John has gone from being an intelligent, smart alecky young man to looking like a bumbling, rude, well, ass. Thankfully I usually pay no mind to those sorts of things, because really...if I stopped listening to music, watching movies, etc because of how the people acted in tabloids..well I'd lead a very quiet life of sewing and books. (Mmmm perhaps I should pay more attention to them....)

But I digress....Mayer may have a big mouth and his intelligent wit may get the better of him...but he still is one of my generations most talented musicians. (This scares me that he is only 2 years older than me.) His ability to play that guitar is just mind boggling. His studio albums do not do him justice. He MUST be seen live. He is a master guitarist in my opinion and his band was fantastic. Steve Jordan on drums...wow. I don't even know how to describe it. And David Ryan Harris on guitar was amazing also! The entire touring band was amazing and the show was unbelievable...even with a little sound issue in which John went acoustic for a bit while the sound tech got it fixed!!

So if you're not a Mayer fan, well you probably already stopped reading this...but if you are..you really must see him live one day!

This will be an awesome year of concerts! John Mayer--done. Amos Lee in April, Marc Broussard in May (and probably again in the fall, he comes here a lot..who knows his schedule). Music....rocks my world.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Ahhhh. Time in the Craft Room. It feels great. So inspired by my lovely friend Rose, of What Rose Made Today...I shall tell you what Mama Made Today!

I made 2 quilt blocks for Layla Grace but was in such a hurry to get them in the mail, I forgot to take pics. I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

I also turned these little circles:

Into these fabric fortune cookies:

I'll probably add them to the shop. They make great little gifts to put in your sales. You can include a little thank you message to your buyer or a sweet/silly/funny/inspirational, etc message inside. They also make great party favors for parties, weddings, and so on!

I also will finally list two more Saints soaps because remember...the New Orleans Saints are SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!!

It was so awesome to be back in the craft room and get some sewing done! I did also make a makeup box bag which I did not get pics of yet :)

Friday, March 5, 2010

So, this whole full time job thing is really cramping my handmade style....darn those pesky kids and need for health insurance....

:) So I'm getting around to uploading some nifty pics...unfortunately no real sewing has been done as of late, but I could NOT contain myself and I did take pics of recent fabric arrivals and some buttons I HAD to make just to get some craftiness out...

My Thank you card business card holders I did a couple of weeks ago. They are not NEARLY as awesome as my bud PocketfulofSunshine, but they'll do until I can get more from her!

Just sharing how I package my swiffer pads when possible :) Been trying to perfect the packaging!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

It is often hard to explain Autism to people because EVERYONE knows about it, but quite honestly, unless you know someone WITH it, it's really hard to describe. There are also lots of myth's and preconceived notions about Autism.

Here are some thoughts I had from my son's point of view.

~~~
I am blonde, beautiful, and happy.
I am two years old and love circles.
Don't bother arguing with me that two is too young to be diagnosed with Autism..
my Mommy took me to the best.

I may repeat your words but I don't really "Talk.". But I am not stupid.

I am a sensory seeker and love rough play..but don't assume my friends will. We are not all the same.
I am Autism.

I will scream when you cut my hair, take away my puzzle pieces and turn off Baby Einstein.
Sometimes you may leave a room and I won't notice.
Sometimes I will...and proceed to tear it apart until you return.
I am Autism.

You will get dirty looks from strangers who think I am just a bad kid having a meltdown and
you stink as a parent.
Go ahead..give them a dirty look back...I'm too busy having a meltdown to notice.
I am Autism.

I will eat bananas on Monday.
But not on Tuesday.
I may try the juice you give me...
but only if its red...
and in a green cup...
or I may just throw the darn thing down and fuss.
I am Autism.

I may sleep great, but my friends may not.
Potty training may be a fantasy...
Simple errands may drive my mommy insane...
I am Autism.

But despite all that...
I am a child, and "A Person is a Person, No Matter How Small"
As Dr Seuss says (and I like Dr Seuss.)
I do love you, I do need you, and I do miss you when you're gone.
I may not run and hug you (or I may!) and I may not say your name,
but you know I'm in here, waiting for you to help me come out.

And I know you love me more than I will ever know.
I know it by hugs, kisses, and that we try it all again the next day.

We'll try therapies, we'll try games, toys, books--everything "THEY" say to do.
I'll try it all with you Mommy, because I know you know,
I am Autism.

And that is okay!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mommy here now...

I am 110% thankfully every day for my life. Eli is extremely high functioning and I remind myself that is a huge gift. He is not dying, he does not need surgeries or meds, and he DOES hug me, love me and look at me.

But some days those blessings are a curse. How can a child who can name colors, not say Mommy? How can he not call my name, his dad's or his brother's? How can we do a puzzle in peace, but when we go to the store we MUST go get a banana so he can hold it through the entire store? Why are some of the simplest tasks the hardest, but then the next day they'll be a breeze? How do you make sure your other more 'typical' child (with issues of his own) is given the same attention as his Autistic brother?

People have asked me, are you sure you're done having kids? When I say yes, and they ask why, I reply, "I have one son with sensory issues and one with Autism". They often say, "so?"

Obviously those people have never spent any reasonable amount of time dealing with even a high functioning Autistic child. They have never had to wonder, will I be able to potty train my child? Will he function okay in school? Will he be able to work one day? Those questions don't go through most people's minds because at first glance, Eli is adorable, he says colors and shapes and he (most of the time) listens to simple commands.

But for the good days there are bad, and sometimes it makes me think. I know I do the best I can, and I have faith he will continue to improve. But the downside of him being high functioning, is it's easy to forget that we STILL need to "fight" for him to continue to grow..it's easy to become complacent. Going to the grocery store, park, bank or what not should NOT be a drama..but it is...and until the day it isn't...I will keep working...fighting for the 'real' Eli to keep coming out.

I hope this makes you think again about any Autistic children (or any special needs) children you may know. Please don't ever judge these families until you have walked a mile in their shoes. And just because it LOOKS like a mom may have it all under control...it could be an act... maybe you can just lend a hand...hold a diaper bag...make a dinner...do SOMETHING for a mom who needs a helping hand.

Great Quotes

"Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted."

Garrison Keillor

"It is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts than while so occupied."